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John Wheeler(1930-2026)

  • Actor
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
John Wheeler in Meet the Santas (2005)
John Wheeler graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, earning a bachelors degree in Music. A singer and character actor most familiar from television, he appeared on episodes of The Odd Couple, Green Acres, The Brady Bunch, and on Star Trek (as the tellarite Gav in the episode "Journey To Babel").

Wheeler sang with the City Center Opera in New York and performed in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel and Bernstein, Comden, and Green's Wonderful Town at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, repeating his role in the latter work in its television premier that same year. On Broadway, he appeared in The Happiest Girl in the World, Kean, Cafe Crown, I Had a Ball, and Sweet Charity (as "Herman", the dance hall proprietor, a role that went to Stubby Kaye in the movie adaptation; Wheeler played a smaller role in the film). He remained active into the 1990s.
BornJune 20, 1930
DiedFebruary 6, 2026(95)
BornJune 20, 1930
DiedFebruary 6, 2026(95)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank

Photos15

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Known for

Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (1995)
Apollo 13
7.7
  • Reporter
  • 1995
Walter Koenig, Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, James Doohan, DeForest Kelley, Ricardo Montalban, George Takei, John Colicos, Maurishka, Nichelle Nichols, Ned Romero, Charles Stewart, Vic Tayback, and George Allen in Star Trek (1966)
Star Trek
8.4
TV Series
  • Gav
Angela Lansbury and Michael Jeter in Mrs. Santa Claus (1996)
Mrs. Santa Claus
6.6
TV Movie
  • Man in Santa Suit
  • 1996
Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker in Simon & Simon (1981)
Simon & Simon
7.1
TV Series
  • Burt

Credits

IMDbPro

Actor



  • Meet the Santas (2005)
    Meet the Santas
    5.7
    TV Movie
    • Mr. Claus
    • 2005
  • Steve Guttenberg and Crystal Bernard in Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004)
    Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus
    5.9
    TV Movie
    • Santa
    • 2004
  • Annette O'Toole and James Remar in The Huntress (2000)
    The Huntress
    6.4
    TV Series
    • Harry
    • 2001
  • Luke Perry, Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, Brian Austin Green, Ian Ziering, and Gabrielle Carteris in Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990)
    Beverly Hills, 90210
    6.6
    TV Series
    • Greg Redborn
    • 1998
  • Duane Davis, Brixton Karnes, Christine Steel, Kathy Trageser, and Nick Wechsler in Team Knight Rider (1997)
    Team Knight Rider
    4.6
    TV Series
    • Barber
    • 1998
  • Patrick Duffy, Suzanne Somers, Christine Lakin, Josh Byrne, Brandon Call, Christopher Castile, Staci Keanan, Sasha Mitchell, and Angela Watson in Step by Step (1991)
    Step by Step
    6.6
    TV Series
    • Santa
    • 1997
  • Sugar Ray Leonard, Dawn Eason, Wolf Larson, Renee Tenison, Kenneth Tigar, and Steven Williams in L.A. Heat (1996)
    L.A. Heat
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Jonathan Quincy
    • 1997
  • Angela Lansbury and Michael Jeter in Mrs. Santa Claus (1996)
    Mrs. Santa Claus
    6.6
    TV Movie
    • Man in Santa Suit
    • 1996
  • Tom Hanks in Apollo 13 (1995)
    Apollo 13
    7.7
    • Reporter
    • 1995
  • Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)
    ER
    7.9
    TV Series
    • Mr. Resnick
    • 1994
  • Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993)
    Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
    6.7
    TV Series
    • Shop Owner
    • 1994
  • Scott Baio and Mary Page Keller in Baby Talk (1991)
    Baby Talk
    4.0
    TV Series
    • Minister
    • 1992
  • Runaway Father (1991)
    Runaway Father
    6.4
    TV Movie
    • Judge Ciglio
    • 1991
  • Claude Brooks, Frankie Faison, Stephanie Faracy, Adam Jeffries, Nancy Walker, and Brigid Brannagh in True Colors (1990)
    True Colors
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Head Monk
    • 1991
  • Maurice Benard and Frances Fisher in Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter (1991)
    Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter
    6.5
    TV Movie
    • William Frawley
    • 1991

Soundtrack



  • Barry Gibb, Peter Frampton, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, and The Bee Gees in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)
    Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
    4.3
    • performer: "She's Leaving Home"
    • 1978

Personal details

  • Alternative name
    • John L. Wheeler
  • Born
    • June 20, 1930
    • Corsicana, Texas, USA
  • Died
    • February 6, 2026
    • Claremont, California, USA(undisclosed)
  • Spouse
    • Helen Wheeler1959 - 2013 (her death)
  • Children
      Christopher Wheeler
  • Parents
      Anne Margaret Schiemenz
  • Other works
    TV commercial for Dell (2001)

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Wheeler played the first ever Tellarite to appear in Star Trek, on the original TV series in 1967. It was Wheeler's first major acting role, at age 37, that began his career.

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